IN news stories, and editorials, Irish Horse World editor Isabel Hurley and journalist Judith Faherty constantly returned to the topic of funding for the industry with the Sport Horse Alliance group’s pitching for increased funding before the budget receiving extensive coverage in the issue of Saturday, July 7th.

In the following week’s issue, Faherty also wrote on the topic, confirming that the Minister for Sport, Michael Creed TD, had received a copy of the Alliance’s report ‘Untapped Potential’, calling for a Government investment of €100 million over the next five years.

The Indecon Report was mentioned on occasion as was the Reaching New Heights document. In common with the racing and bloodstock industries, Brexit and the provisions of the Working Time Act were of concern to readers of the sport horse section of the paper.

In early September, Faherty reported on the appointment of Joe Reynolds as chairman of Horse Sport Ireland for a five-year term. He simultaneously stood down as chairman of Dressage Ireland.

Speaking to The Irish Field, the new appointee said: “I am delighted to take up the position of chairman in the organisation. Exceptional strides have been made on the Indecon recommendations, within Horse Sport Ireland, over the past 12 months and we are now at a very crucial stage.

“I think the whole thing is going in the right direction. In terms of getting the new board to look further forward, we need to be doing a longer term strategic view. There is always a tendency, in every organisation, to look at what the problem is for next year but I would like to be looking ahead to where we want to be in five or 10 years.”

The following week, Lucinda Creighton, Clare Hughes and Mary Lambkin Coyle were announced as new board members.

Disappointingly, the expectations of all involved in equestrian sports took a real knock in the October budget with an increase of just €500,000 from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine bringing the total funding from that source up to €3 million. ‘Paltry budget rise a slap in the face’ was the headline over Hurley’s editorial.

“It’s hard to understand exactly what is required,” was the comment from Reynolds while, speaking on behalf of Sport Horse Alliance, Barry O’Connor said the group was “deeply disappointed at the miniscule increase in funding for the sport horse sector.” Others who contacted The Irish Field were in total agreement.

Both Hurley and Faherty reported on the Sport House Alliance’s presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Agricultural Committee at Leinster House in November.